Group rides & you

Hurry up and wait

July 18, 2025

🧠 Need to know this week…

  1. 🎒 Yooooo it’s riding season. Get your ass out there! I’ve got a ton of routes, including a new Bull Run Loop

  2. 📷️ The new Insta360 X5 genuinely is actually worthwhile as a 360 camera now, especially with ND filters. No, I’m not sponsored. Yet?

  3. 🦺 I’ve had the TechAir Plasma 5 for a few weeks now… phenomenal airbag that I don’t mind wearing

  4. 🏍️ 🥓 Bikes & Breakfast is at Cold Spring, NY this week (July 20)

  5. 🏖️ Long Island / Hamptons routes are up on the NYC MOTO Rides Page

  6. I’ve been asked a lot; check out Calimoto for route planning

Every group ride starts with great intentions…

Then 45 minutes after KSU (kickstands up), you find yourself in this situation:

Never. Fucking. Fails

All jokes aside though, there are guidelines around how a ride is supposed to go and what a ride actually ends up being.

Rides go sideways so many different ways:

  1. Road construction

  2. Too many traffic lights & stop signs on an unscouted route

  3. Traffic

  4. Breakdowns

  5. Shit riders (define that how you will)

  6. Leaders get lost

  7. You get lost

I’ve had all of these and more go wrong on a ride.

Anyway, here’s what to expect:

KSU stands for kickstands up and generally means that kick stands go up and you’re off riding.

  • Reality: KSU time is 9am and you’re still waiting for someone at 9:30 and they will probably want to get a coffee when they finally roll up at 9:45. Then you finally kick off at 10am only to have to stop to get gas at 10:15 because Peter is running on fumes. Gas station stop takes 30 minutes. Actual ride starts at 11.

Everyone should generally be prepared with the right gear, tanks full, and bladder emptied

  • Reality: Tommy’s rocking ripped jeans, a t-shirt, and a helmet 7yrs old and 2 sizes too big (Tommy’s got a smaller head than he thought) with a ripped strap. Tommy’s license plate “fell off” and is in his backpack (also with a ripped strap). Stay away from Tommy. He’s also the guy you had to wait on for KSU.

The ride leader(s) will hold a ride meeting at the beginning of the ride setting expectations and rules

  • Reality: Generally, this is actually well-followed for larger groups. The ride leader does the meeting and goes over speeds, destinations, what to do in the event of whatever, ride roles, etc. For tighter groups with people that do a ton of riding together, this is more ad hoc. They will generally just tell the riders where they’re going and that’s it. If you are a new rider, let the ride leader know! Some rides are just not going to be for you and are a danger to you and those you ride with. Hook up with the ride leader beforehand if possible and let them know.

The route will have been chosen by the ride leader in advance and is sometimes negotiable with the rest of the crew.

  • Reality: With smaller, less structured groups, the destination and route is usually just figured out after everyone gets together. Everyone argues about the best route, bitches about lunch options, and then finally sets off with all of the pressure on the leader. If you’re just starting out, just go with the flow and enjoy the ride; don’t make yourself a pain in the ass when the ride leader already has a ton of shit to worry about.

Ride leaders will always wait at turn points to make sure everyone catches up.

  • Reality: Most ride leaders will wait at turn points; if you’re one of those that doesn’t, look at yourself in the mirror and question your existence because you suck. Either way, you’d do well knowing your first destination just in case you get lost. But please hear this: ride your own ride! I’m sure you’ve heard that before but take it seriously. Don’t push your own limits outside of your comfort zone (track is different). I’d rather get lost than go down on a turn keeping up with the others.

You’ll stop for gas based on the needs of the thirstiest bikes (V4’s, I’m looking at you)

  • Reality: I almost run out of gas on every fucking ride. Don’t be like me.

There will be a solid route planned for the way back (after lunch)

  • Reality: You’ll be doing 110mph all the way home on the most straight-shot boring highway there is. You’ll cramp up 10 minutes before getting home, collapse on the couch when you get in, and then have to do all kinds of shit around the house because your wife thinks you were just playing outside for 8 hours.

Couple more quick points:

  • Definitely try to show up with a full tank of gas to the ride

  • How’s everyone geared? If it’s just a bunch of sloppy t-shirts, reconsider! Unless you’re squiding too and to each their own!

  • Check your tires. If your wear is getting low, keep in mind that the last 10% of a tire’s tread wears super fast. Change your tires before committing to 300 miles.

  • Speaking of, longer rides are around 300 miles roundtrip so keep that in mind. Might not be a good idea as your first ride.

  • Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. If you’re on a 400 and everyone else brought their liters, you’re going to get left behind.

  • Generally speaking, you’ll start the ride as a group and then it’s everyone for themselves on the way home but do check-in with the txt group thread when you get home.

A new route database & ride calendar is coming…

I know I haven’t been around much over the last few months but between the winter and my actual day job, I haven’t been able to focus on the newsletter as much.

What I have had time to do though was to build out an entire route, group ride system that can support us as riders through the summer. Here’s some functionality I’ve built:

  1. Routes

    1. All of my custom routes will be in here.

    2. Custom routes will be sortable and filterable by distance, type (off-road/on-road), location, etc.

    3. You can build your own routes and upload links to Calimoto, GPX files, etc.

    4. Add in your own comments on routes you’ve done or are interested in.

  2. Rides

    1. This is built to support rides for charity, motorcycle club rides, and a general platform to help with planning, etc.

    2. There will be a calendar for all rides and you will be able to join any ride you want (ride leads/organizers will be able to choose whether riders need to be approved or not)

    3. All of the expected group ride creation functionality will be there:

      1. Routes

      2. Ride date/KSU location

      3. Planned stops

      4. Custom ride rules & guidelines

      5. Ability to tip ($) the ride leader

      6. A group ride can be associated with one of the routes on NYC MOTO or a custom route set by the ride leader

Stay tuned for more updates as I finalize the build.

🥇 The NYC MOTO Riders Club

Here’s what being a member of The Riders Club means:

🌟 You’re supporting the only newsletter for riders in NYC. I work hard as hell bringing you this content and hunt down brands, routes, gear, and stories I know you’ll love. It’s a full time job and subscribers to the NYC MOTO Riders Club make it possible.

🔗 All of the Google Maps links & .GPX from our ride guides. Simply click on the links and follow the same turn-by-turn directions I did. I include .GPX links as well.

🛣️ A new route every week. There is an email blast that goes out on Thursdays to only those that subscribe to the Riders Club. It features one new spectacular route every week.

🤑 Exclusive discount codes to the 🔥 hottest gear. Some of the discounts are higher value than the free subscribers and you’ll also see some exclusive gear/brands entirely.

Give it a shot with a 7 day free trial:

Or if you’re the non-committal type, buy me a cup of ☕️ coffee. Honestly though, I’d probably just spend it on a pair of gloves.

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Go ahead and hit up the NYC MOTO Community to keep the convo going.

Until next time!

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